Gate-hinge



(No Model.)

W. R. WHITE.

' GATE HINGE. No. 496,926. 'Paterited May 9, 18913.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM RICHARD WHITE, 0 F BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

GATE-HINGE.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 496,926, dated May 9, 1893.

Application filed October 11, 1892- Serial No. 448.505. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM RICHARD WHITE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bloomington, in the county of McLean and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate-Hinges, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object to produce a hinge which is particularly adapted for use in connection with gates, and it consists of a hinge having the characteristics to be hereinafter pointed out. I

Figure 1, is a perspective view of the rear end of the gate having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2, is an enlarged view in side elevation of a modification of the invention. In the drawings A, represents a swinging gate Whichmay be of any usual or preferred construction, and B, the wooden post to which the gate is hinged. The part 2, of the hinge carried by the gate consists of a bar or plate provided at its end with an eye which encircles the vertically arranged rod 3, of the stationary or post part of the hinge. The part of the hinge carried by the post is in the form of a staple and consists of the legs or horizontally arranged parts 4, which enter the posts,

and which are ordinarily screw threaded to receivethe nuts 10, by which the hinge is se cured to the posts, and the aforesaid vertically disposed rod portion 3, connecting the legs and serving as a supporting shaft or rod on which the gate swings. Instead of the rod 3, and the legs 4, of the post member of the hinge joining each other at right angles, as is usual in gate hinges of this kind, I interpose between them a shoulder which is preferably in the form of a U-shaped connecting portion 5, the U-shaped connection at the top of the hinge being inverted. When the nuts 10, are screwed upon the ends of the legs they draw the shoulders 5, against the opposite face of the post so that the hinge member is thus tightly clamped, while the rod portion 3, thereof sets over the proper distance from the face of the post to allow the gate or swinging member of the hinge to turn freely thereon. The upper inverted U-shaped connecting portion 5, may be of such size that the eye or loop of the swinging hinge member 2, may enter the same and turn freely therein above the level of the upper leg 4, as shown in Fig. 2.

This construction of the upper U-shaped connection 5, is advantageous in gate hinges where the rod -3, is-of considerable length, and there are" combined with thehinge means for vertically adjusting the gate and the gate member of the hinge in order that the gate may swing freely over snow or'for other purposes.

The gate is vertically adjusted by meansof a bracket 6, having a perforated head or plate 7, surrounding the vertical hinge rod 3, and forming the support upon which the member 2, of the hinge rests, and thus supporting the gate. The lower end of the bracket 6, is bent at an angle to the main part thereof, and forms a pin or finger 8, which is adapted to be inserted into any one of the holes 9, in the post, such engagement of the bracket with the post serving to hold it in the position to which it is adjusted.

By making the stationary hinge member with the enlarged inverted U portion 5, shown in Fig. 2, I avoid all danger of binding the gate member 2, of the hinge between the supporting plate 7, of the bracket, and the upper leg 4, ofthe stationary hinge member, when the gate is adjusted to its highest position,as might otherwise occur, because,when the plate 7, is stopped from further upward movement by the upper leg 4, there is still ample room in the U, 5, for the gate hinge member to freely turn. This construction of hinge also makes it'easy to determine the proper position for the upper of the holes 9, as it is only necessary to raise the bracket until stopped by the upper leg of the post member of the hinge and make the hole opposite the end of the pin 8,-no thought or care being required to place the hole so that when the bracket is supported therein, the hinge member 2, will not be forced against the part. But one adjusting bracket 6, is ordinarily required, and that one is preferably arranged in combination with the upper hinge. Ordinarily, however,it is not necessary to make the U shaped connecting portion 5, of the post member of the hinge of such size that the gate member of the hinge can freely swing in the U.

The principal advantage incident to making "the hinge as I have described arises from the facility with which such a hinge can be re moved from a post, even after it has been therein for a great length of time. As gate hinges are now mounted it is necessary that the legs or horizontal portions thereof shall fit closely in the holes in the post into which they are inserted in order that the hinge shall not be loose. When they are thus tightly inserted into the holes into the post it is difficult to remove the hinges after they have stood long enough to become rusty. By the use of my invention, the holes in which the legs 3, of the gate member of the hinge are inserted may be considerably larger than such portion of the hinge so that theyare loose therein, and yet when the nuts are screwed up against the face of the post the hinge member will be held secure by reason of the shoulders 5, being closely drawn against the opposite face of the 0st. p While I prefer that the shoulders shall be in the form of U-shaped connections between the parts 3 and 4, of the hinge member, it is evident that they might be changed in form and still serve the same purpose of providing an abutment which bears against the post when the nuts are screwed tightly upon the horizontal legs of the hinges so that the hinge is held in place securely without depending upon the fit of the legs 4, in the holes into which they are inserted.

What I claim is 1. A stationary gate hinge member consisting of the vertical rod 3, the legs 4, adapted to pass through the post and the shoulders or abutments between the legs and the rod 3, consisting of U-shaped connecting portions 5, substantially as described.

2. In a swinging gate the combination of the hinge made up of a gate member 2, and a post member consisting of a vertical rod 3, and two horizontal legs by which the rod is secured to the post, the rod and upper leg being connected with each other by an inverted U-shaped portion 5, and means whereby the gate may be held in various positions, vertically, to which it is adjusted, substantially as described.

3. In a swinging gate, the combination with the gate and the post provided with a series of holes 9; of the upper hinge consisting ofthe perforated member carried by the gate and the stationaryfmember secured to the post, the latter meinberhaving the vertically disposed rod 3 upon which the gate member swings, the legs 4 secured to the post, and the inverted U-shaped portion connecting the upper leg 4 and the rod 3, and the adjustable supporting bracket 6 having the head or plate 7, upon which the gate member of the hinge rests, and the pin 8 adapted to enter the holes 9 in the post; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM RICHARD WHITE.

Witnesses:

LILA E. WHITE, MATTIE WHITE. 

